Return to Sender Insufficient Address

[linus.hux72fe]

I shipped a package to a buyer at the address provided by eBay. 

Today the package was returned to me marked:

Return to Sender

Insufficient Address

Unable to Forward

What is my responsibility and the Ebay requirements for handling this appropriately?

Delivery was attempted twice according to USPS tracking.

I messaged the purchaser including a photo of the USPS sticker stating unable to deliver.

Googling the address shows a residence.

Thank you for any assistance.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Do nothing until buyer opens a 'not delivered' case. They may not. Wait 30 days and see. 

[doc-holmes]

Technically I think your responsibility is over. EBay considers delivery attempts as a delivery, I believe. The right thing to do would be to refund, minus shipping costs, however. 

[bonanza125]

What I do is message them what happened which you did and then just refund them. If they still want the item have them repurchase it.

[bdmh-enterprises]

To add, you should deduct the shipping cost from the refund. No need for you to pay for their mistake.

[inhawaii]

You have ZERO obligation here.

Buyers mistake. You owe nothing, although most sellers will refund the buyer minus original shipping cost.

But if you want, you can keep the item and the money.

[onefootflippers]

I set these orders aside, don't even open them and see if I ever hear back from the customer. I have learned that pre-emptively reaching out to them always ends up with me losing money.

[inhawaii]

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@onefootflippers wrote:

I set these orders aside, don't even open them and see if I ever hear back from the customer. I have learned that pre-emptively reaching out to them always ends up with me losing money.

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Excellent advice.

Set it aside and forget about it until you hear from the buyer.

I think I have 2 or 3 returned boxes still unopened from years ago. 

[yuzuha]

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@bonanza125 wrote:

What I do is message them what happened which you did and then just refund them. If they still want the item have them repurchase it.

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This is what I do. One buyer apologized profusely for the error and immediately repurchased with the corrected address, the other buyer I never heard from again.

[linus.hux72fe]

Thank you all for the advise and direction. I will wait until (or if) I hear from the purchaser.  At that time I'll have to decide what to do as to repurchase or refund or whatever. We are planning to be away for a period of time and I was hoping to tie this up in a bow prior to leaving but I am really not in control of that timeline. 

Again, thank you all for your time, advise, and direction. 

[reallynicestamps]

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

Technically you owe the buyer nothing.

Ethically, you could cancel the order and refund the purchase price, but not the shipping which went to the carrier which did their job.

We are planning to be away for a period of time

Can you arrange for a Hold with USPS on your mail while you are away?

[mam98031]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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@onefootflippers wrote:

I set these orders aside, don't even open them and see if I ever hear back from the customer. I have learned that pre-emptively reaching out to them always ends up with me losing money.

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Excellent advice.

Set it aside and forget about it until you hear from the buyer.

I think I have 2 or 3 returned boxes still unopened from years ago. 

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There is not a good reason for any seller to lose money on this transaction as the OP describes.  If a seller does, it is because they mishandled it, not because of anything Ebay or the buyer did.

IMHO just keeping the return and not refunding the buyer anything is wrong too.  I refund the buyer for the product ONLY and I keep the shipping PLUS any non refundable fees [such as fees on the shipping I keep as well as the 40 cent per transaction fee].

[onefootflippers]

Most of the orders I get from people who don't know where they live are extremely inexpensive items. I don't remember ever having one over about $5 or so. 

I have incurred negatives just for refunding those people.  They are suddenly mad they didn't get it, and expect me to either refund that shipping cost too or to send it back out for free. 

It is a no win situation for the seller, no matter what you choose to do.

[mam98031]

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@onefootflippers wrote:

Most of the orders I get from people who don't know where they live are extremely inexpensive items. I don't remember ever having one over about $5 or so. 

I have incurred negatives just for refunding those people.  They are suddenly mad they didn't get it, and expect me to either refund that shipping cost too or to send it back out for free. 

It is a no win situation for the seller, no matter what you choose to do.

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I'm not sure what to tell you.  You were covered by Seller Protection on the items as you describe it, so any negative Feedback that was left, could have been removed.  I only see one of the 7 you have that might be one you refer to.  And possibly one of the neutrals you have.

Sellers can be just fine in these situations, but the seller has to know how to handle them properly.